Newquay RNLI volunteers respond to diver mayday
Newquay's RNLI lifeboat volunteers responded to a mayday call from a local dive boat at 11.15am on Saturday (11 May) after a diver was brought to the surface unconscious, around two miles off Newquay.
He was transferred to the charity's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat after regaining consciousness and was treated by the RNLI crew, one of whom is a paramedic, before being airlifted from the lifeboat by the crew of the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Other local boats had also answered the call for help, including one with two doctors on-board who offered medical advice over the radio. Members of Newquay Coastguard met the diver's colleagues at Newquay Harbour, where the lifeboat crew returned just before midday.
Newquay RNLI's volunteer lifeboat press officer said: 'The diver remained in hospital overnight and we send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery'.
Notes to editors
A video of the rescue will be available shortly from the RNLI news centre at www.rnli.org/news-and-media
RNLI media contacts
Andy Hobkinson, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Newquay RNLI lifeboat station, [email protected] or mobile: 07880 507464. Alternatively, please contact Emma Haines, RNLI Media Officer (South) at [email protected] or 07786 668847. The RNLI Press Office can be contacted on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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